East Pikeland police officers, resident receive awards

Cpl. Ben Martin receives a commendation from East Pikeland Police Chief James Franciscus for his role in investigating a pair of bank robberies from last year. Courtesy of the East Pikeland Police.

EAST PIKELAND — Several awards were given out to police and a member of the public at last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to work with these men and women,” East Pikeland Police Chief James Franciscus told 21st Century Media Monday. “They are, without a doubt, a great and reliable collection of people.”

Cpl. Ben Martin received a commendation from Franciscus last week for helping solve two bank robberies in the township, one at a First Cornerstone Bank in July last year and a second at a Wells Fargo in November.

Martin worked with the Chester County Detectives and the FBI to investigate the separate cases. The November robbery was eventually tied to the Lower Merion case, which netted three arrests.